Nakalembe wins Castle Lite Entebbe Ladies Open

Irene Nakalembe lifts the Castle Lite Entebbe Ladies Open trophy as Entebbe Club chairman Twinemanzi Tumubweinee (left), Britam CEO Allan Mafabi, ULGU president Maxi Byenkya and Entebbe Municipality MP Rosemary Tumusiime (right) applaud her . PHOTOS: Michael Nsubuga

After winning the Castle Lite Entebbe Ladies Open for the fourth consecutive time Irene Nakalembe is now praying for similar form to win even bigger tournaments ahead this year.

Playing off handicap 3 and on home course, Nakalembe returned 148 gross over 36 holes to beat the 2013 champion, Tanzanaia's Iddi Madina by a stroke on Saturday.

It was a perfect performance for the national ladies team player who is coming off to finishing fourth in the Nigerian ladies open last month. Top on the ladder for the MSL Logistics sponsored golfer is winning the Uganda Ladies Open where she has played second fiddle for a number of times.

"I had a good first round, but I wasn't impressed with the scores neither was I disappointed. On the second day when I was drawn with Madina and Eva I knew it was going to be a tight contest so I had to step up because Madina is a very strong player and Eva can also chase," Nakalembe said.

 Irene Nakalembe (center) receives her winning prizes from Entebbe Municipality MP Rosemary Tumusiime (3rd left) as UGU president Innocent Kihika (left), ULGU president Maxi Byenkya (2nd left) and sponsors' representatives Castle Lite's Julian Ssentamu and Britam's Edgar Muzahura and Kabalega Lodges' Peter Apell (right) look on

"For me to be a champion with such a good gross score is spectacular, thanks to my opponents for giving such a good game. But above all I want to thank God because I always called on him with every shot because I knew I couldn't do it all on my own,"

"I have been battered away from home but here I'm going to hang on to this; because this the best course I have always returned the best gross scores, but I'm hungry for the Uganda Ladies Open and if I play like I did today I will go for it," Nakalembe stated.

She said her overall driving and putting was key in ensuring she won the event.

Iddi  Madina was left ruing the short time she had to practice on the course before the tournament but promised to return to challenge Nakalembe.

"If I had enough time before I could have done better because I improved but I'm happy for Irene we enjoyed ourselves on the course and I must say she has improved a lot from the last time I played against her and wish her the best," Madina who was competing for the second time in Entebbe said.

Eva Magala finished third, 8 strokes away while Peace Kabasweka and Rose Azuba were fourth and fifth respectively.

 Seniors' winner Peace Muyege could nOt contain her excitement as she picked her prizes from Edgar Muzahura

Entebbe Municipality area Member of Parliament Rosemary Tumusiime presided over the Castle Lite, Kabalega Lodges and Britam Insurance who also offered a new score board at the club.

Castle Lite Entebbe Ladies Open results

Overall winner

Irene Nakalembe 148 gross.

Silver winner-nett

Peace Kabasweka 144c/b

Rose Azuba 144

Lucia Alinda 147

Silver winners

Day-one: Erias Vicky 85gross

Day-two: Martha Babirye 82

Bronze winners

Maureen Okura 141nett

Pamela Tumusiime 148c/b

Wendy Angudeyo 148

Seniors winner

Peace Muyege 152nett

Subsidiary - Men

Group A

Joseph Galiwango 67nett

Becca Mwanja 67

Aaron Mugomola 68

Group B

Twinemanzi Tumubweinee 67c/b

Graham Byagaba 67

Jezan Mohammed 67

Group C

Paul Ndyaguma 65

Daniel Opwonya 66

Joseph Mubiru 68

Longest drives

Meron Kyomugisha

Becca Mwanja

Nearest to the pin

Allan Mboijana

Gertrude Kityo

Hole in One

Charles Mubiru